A guide to Admission Ceremonies in New South Wales

Why is this guide necessary?

Details of your Admission Ceremony are only provided by the Legal Profession Admission Board one week before the ceremony. This does not give you much time to organise a mover, invite guests, apply for leave from work or understand the ceremony process.

Admission Ceremonies in the NSW Supreme Court are held on a Friday every second month. There are several ceremonies held throughout the day, and applicants for admission are grouped according to the alphabet. I am an “H” and my ceremony was at 12:15pm, right in the middle of the day. I recommend you apply for a whole day of leave from work in advance, as you won’t know the time of your ceremony until a week out.

Should I invite guests? Is my Admission even that important?

I thought my Admission Ceremony would not be that important. I had my whole family travel from interstate to attend my graduation from law school and thought the Admission Ceremony would not be a big deal. I was wrong. I was so glad my parents came from interstate. Admission is the last step in the process of becoming a lawyer and signifies the legal community’s acceptance of you. One of the junior lawyers at work claims that her Admission was much more important than her law school graduation. She comes from a legal family and had several generations of lawyers at her ceremony. Your Admission is important and I would invite guests. You can invite a maximum of three guests plus a mover (mover is compulsory).

What should I wear?

Applicants should wear corporate attire. You must wear a jacket, as the Admission Ceremony is a proper court session. Appropriate attire:

1.      A suit; or

2.      Corporate dress with jacket;

3.      Flat shoes or low heels.

What is not appropriate:

1.      Not wearing a jacket;

2.      Bright, tight dresses;

3.      Short hemlines;

4.      Ghastly nail polish;

5.      Leopard print;

6.      Hooker heels.

If you would like to wear colour, wear a charcoal, black or navy suit with a bright top. Remind your guests to dress appropriately. Tell your guests to dress conservatively as though they are going to church.

If it is Autumn, Winter or Spring, bring a coat. The Supreme Court precinct is a wind tunnel and is freezing most of the year. If it is Winter I also recommend gloves. Phillip Street is particularly windy. If you plan to walk along Phillip Street, select a hairstyle that looks ok windswept.

This picture shows newly admitted lawyers dressed relatively appropriately for an Admission Ceremony. Relatively appropriate because I think some hemlines could be longer here and leopard print heels are questionable.

What should my mover wear?

Your mover should also wear corporate attire. If your mover is a barrister, they must be robed for the ceremony.

Before the Ceremony

Arrive at the Supreme Court building at least 40 minutes before the ceremony commences. This will allow time to get through security and line up for the lift to Level 13. Banco Court will open 30 minutes before the ceremony. Remember that no photographs or films can be taken in the court or foyer area. Turn off phones before entering the court building. Photographs are permitted and are traditionally taken after the ceremony when signing the roll and on the Supreme Court steps.

You must be in the court room and seated at least 20 minutes before the ceremony begins, as this is when the instructions for conduct during the ceremony will be given. If you arrive late your entry may be refused and you may have to be admitted another time (and have to pay the $500 fee again). Before you take your seat, make sure your guests are seated in the sections behind the silver railings to the back or sides of the court.

You will then be shown to your allocated seat which will have your name tag on it. It is important you stay in your seat, otherwise you may miss the instructions. Your mover will sit at the centre front of the court where they will be briefed on procedure. Your mover’s seat will also have their name tag on it. If your mover is a member of the bar or a particular prominent member of the legal profession they will be seated at one of the bar tables.

The Admission Ceremony

1.      Opening

All stand as the Chief Justice of New South Wales the Honourable Tom Bathurst AC and the two other Supreme Court judges presiding over the ceremony walk in. Remain standing until the Chief Justice has sat.

2.      Individual moving of applicants

Each applicant will be individually moved. You do not have to say anything in this part of the ceremony. Simply stand when your name is called, facing the Chief Justice. Your mover will stand and move you. The Chief Justice will then say “let [insert name] be moved”. You will then bow to the Chief Justice and sit down. This is the most lengthy part of the ceremony, as you will have to wait for all the other applicants to individually be moved. The Chief Justice is very good at giving eye contact, so be prepared to feel as though you are being judged.

3.      Applicants take oath/affirmation in groups

All applicants must take the oath/affirmation. This is done in groups, row by row. When your row is called, stand and follow your row to stand in front of the bar table facing the bench. If you are making an oath, pick up a copy of your religious book of choice at the end of the bar table. If you are making an affirmation you do not need anything.

The oath/affirmation is that you will truly and honestly conduct yourself in the practice of a lawyer of the Supreme Court of New South Wales and that you will faithfully serve as such in the administration of the laws and usages of this State according to the best of your knowledge, skill and ability. You don’t have to memorise this. The oath/affirmation is read out by the court. After it is read, as a group you say either “so help me God” (if swearing) OR “I do” (if declaring and affirming). Then you file back to your seat and wait for the other groups to make their oath/affirmation.

4.      Speech by the Chief Justice

The Chief Justice addresses the new lawyers and audience. The speech in my Admission Ceremony reminded us that lawyers are guardians of the rule of law, and their duty to the court and ethical responsibilities will sometimes require them to give legal advice that could lose them clients. Key message: Lawyers must be fearless custodians of the law.

Signing the Roll

After the Admission Ceremony head straight to the Macquarie Street side of the Lobby on Ground floor where the signing of the roll occurs. The line can be long, so I recommend going straight down to ground floor. There is no point lingering on Level 13 as photography is not permitted and you have to be silent as other courts may be in session.

There are two steps to signing the Roll:

1.      Complete the paperwork

You will have to circle whether you made an oath or affirmation and whether you said “so help me God” or “I do”.

2.      Sign the roll

You just have to sign, as your name and other details are already printed in the roll. You will be closely supervised, so don’t make any mistakes.

After you have signed the roll you will finally be given your certificate declaring you have been admitted as a Lawyer of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. Don’t forget to take your certificate. I forgot to take the certificate initially which was quite embarrassing. Luckily you won’t make the same mistake because you have this guide. Remember to “shake and take”. That is, shake with your right hand, and then gently take the certificate with your left hand.

After your Admission Ceremony

Take photos in all the iconic locations, namely in front of the crest in the Eastern Foyer and outside on the court steps. 

This is a time to celebrate. You may like to choose somewhere lawyers lunch near the Supreme Court. Possible venues include:

1.      Verandah – for barrister watching;

2.      Lindt Café – for the iced chocolates;

3.      Society – for proximity to the Supreme Court;

4.      Silks Coffee Lounge – for upmarket barrister watching;

5.      Legal Grounds Café – for a quieter location;

6.      Hyde Park Barracks Café – for a historic location that pleases your grandparents;

7.      Chrysler Café – for the iconic soup menu; and

8.      Any venue at the GPO lower ground floor – for the variety and quality.

Congratulations and best of luck for your admission!